School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) House Study Committee on Health, Education and School Based Health Centers 2015 Voices for Georgia’s Children

OverviewNeedOutcomes 1 School-Based Health Centers

Overview of SBHCs 2 SBHCs are primary care centers within schools that blend medical care with behavioral health and psychosocial services in order to promote the health and educational success of school- aged children and adolescents Definition

Overview of SBHCs 3 Diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness and minor injuries Asthma treatment and monitoring Wellness checks and routine physicals Health screenings (Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis & Treatment) Immunization and flu vaccines Mental and behavioral health counseling Parent and family counseling Specialist and community referrals Preventative, Routine, Acute and Monitoring Services

4 Current Scope: National and Georgia 2,000 SBHCs in 44 states and the District of Columbia 9 SBHCs in Georgia serving 5,000 students, staff and families; 63 tele-health sites (GPTH) Whitefoord Community Program (2 SBHCs) Berrien County Med Clinic Ware County School System Tiger Creek Elementary Turner Elementary Lake Forest Elementary Johnson County Elementary North Clayton County High School Overview of SBHCs

5 Students, Families and the Community Benefit Overview of SBHCs

6 85% of SBHCs bill for visits nationally Medicaid, CHIP, private insurance, self-pay Associated administrative costs are billable Service Revenue 33% by community health organizations (Federally Qualified Health Centers) Most in Georgia are FQHC sponsored Sponsorships In-Kind support for operations from schools and hospitals State and National Foundations Partner Contributions 18 states have dedicated funds in their budget State, federal, and local grants State Funds & Government Grants Start Up and Sustainable Funding Opportunities Overview of SBHCs

7 Georgia ranks 42 nd nationally in child well-being 52% have a medical home 65% had a medical or dental preventive care visit 53% with emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems received mental health care Child Health in Georgia Need for SBHCs

8 Nearly 200,000 children are uninsured in Georgia 44 th in rate of uninsured children 63 counties have no pediatrician 6 have no family medicine physician 31 have no internal medicine physician 79 have no OB/GYN 39 th in Doctors per 100,00 1:1,440 ratio of mental health worker to citizen 750 School Psychologists – ratio of 1:2,475 (1:1,000) 620 School Social Workers – ratio of 1:2,742(1:250) 45 th in access to mental health care Access to Healthcare in Georgia Need for SBHCs

9 Approximately 320,000 students miss 10 days each year due to illness in Georgia – For many children with a mental illness, that number can be as high as 18 to 22 days missed Asthma and Oral Health are the leading causes of absenteeism – Absenteeism linked to being retained in 3 rd grade – Being retained in 3 rd grade linked to not graduating Negative health effects are amplified for children living in poverty Health Impacts Education Outcomes Need for SBHCs

10 Decreased: – Hospitalization due to asthma – Inappropriate use of emergency departments – Prescription Drug Use Increased: – Use of primary care – Use of peak flow meters and inhalers (for asthma) – Use of mental health services – Access to healthcare Health Outcomes of SBHCs

11 Educational Decreased: – Tardiness – Loss of seat time Increased: – Attendance – Lake Forest Site – 50% of students referred to SBHC returned to class – Perception of school engagement, expectations, and safety – Grade Point Average Outcomes of SBHCs

12 Cost-Savings Reduction of Medicaid expenditures attributed to: – Inpatient hospitalization, prescription drug, and emergency department use Whitefoord Site – 50% reduction in Medicaid cost per child for those with access to SBHC Atlanta, GA – Medicaid enrolled students had lower: – Drug and emergency department expenses – $ vs. $2, in yearly expenses Outcomes of SBHCs

Linking School-Based Access to the Larger Whole 13 Academic Success Access to Healthcare Improved Health SBHCs Provide a Natural Link for Sustaining Child Health and Academic Outcomes

Thank You! For more info: Erica Fener Sitkoff – Policy & Outreach Director Polly McKinney – Advocacy Director